A High-End Hiking Boot or a Rugged-Refined Wardrobe?

$1,425 Buys You...

The wardrobe of an outdoorsman has more to do with utility than flair, but these rubber-soled calfskin boots from Hermès accomplish both. Pick up a pair and hit a national park (or Park Avenue)—or spend the same amount on the seven hardy-handsome pieces below. Hermès, 800-441-4488

That buckle looks a little to flimsy to hold up in real hiking and will probably get caught up in underbrush. The stitched front seems like a weak point in the shoe. Most of my hiking boots have a rounded, solid front. Oh well, these do look a little business shoe like and will probably serve their intended purpose of projected rugged office demeanor, thereby matching form and function. Nothing wrong with that as long as you remember to get some real hiking boots if you are going into wilderness or hikes along unpaved trails.

If you add up the cost of that rugged refined wardrobe it comes to $2,850.00. That's a lot of money to spend to go down to the expensive fancy department stores on Fifth Avenue to sniff the cologne.

In comparison, a pair of Danner hikers made in USA go for about 300, a N3B parka for about 190, USN surplus watch cap for 7 bucks,Casio G shock about 45 from walmart, Army v neck sweater for 70,Coleman stainless steel flask 10 bucks, Coleman backpack 30 bucks and the Chevy dealer gives the key tags away FREE!Twenty two hundred bucks can get you a nifty little vacation in a warmer climate for sure or a top of the Ariens snowblower and a Stihl mid size professional saw if you want to stay in the cold.

All of that looks great...if you want to give the appearance of hiking. $1400 for hiking shoes? I think not. My $90 Merrells have taken me across the Grand Canyon and still look great. However, I don't wear them to make a fashion statement.

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